Shelving for stores and the like



Nov. 10, 1942. D. H. BITNEY 2,301,507

SHELVING FOR STORES AND THE LIKE Filed 'July 7, 1941 I INVENTOR:

, flawy /7. 5/7/76 BY 6%? ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 10, 1942 SHELVIN G FOR STORES AND THE LIKE Dewey H. Bitney, Albion, Mich, assignor to Union Steel Products Company, Albion, Mich, a corpcration of Michigan Application July 7, 1941, Serial No. 401,304

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shelving for stores and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide shelving of a new and im-' proved type for stores and the like which is characterized by its ready installation and adjustability to receive articles of different sizes.

Second, to provide shelving of the type described which is exceedingly economical of construction and very pleasing in appearance and displays the shelved merchandise in an attractive manner.

Third, to provide shelving of the type described wherein the space between the shelves may be vention.

Fig. 2 is a view in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating details of the structure and the manner in which the shelves thereof may be adjusted relative to one another.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view further illustrating the construction and relation of the parts.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view, in section on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View in section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The present invention relates to shelving which is particularly adapted for the display of boxed goods, for example, shoe boxes, in stores, and accordingly includes novel means whereby the vertical distance between the shelves may be readily adjusted within any desired limits and the front-torear positioning of the shelves regulated, to the end that boxes of different dimensions may be disposed with their front surfaces flush regardless of differences in their lengths. The vertical adjustability of the shelving enables maximum economy of space. The shelving is in large part of wire or light rod construction which contributes greatly to its economy of cost as well easily and quickly adjusted to any desired size 1.

as affording a very pleasing and attractive ap- 55 pearance. This shelving may be installed by unskilled workmen in very little time and as it comes in complete unitary sections they may be removed or added to at anytime.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I in general indicates a section of shelving in accordance with my invention, which consists of a base 2 preferably of sheet metal having an attractive enameled surface and provided adjacent the ends thereof with upright supporting or upright socket members 3 which are of U or channelsection, as illustrated in Fig. 4. These socket members are Welded to the ends of the base at A. The arms or flanges of the socket members are bent reversely to receive the arms of the channel uprights 6, there being a substantial frictional engagement of the parts to eliminate wobbling or swaying. A sheet metal head member 1, similar in finish to the base, is supported on these uprights 6, being provided for this purpose with channel-shaped socket members 8 corresponding to the members 3 and spot welded interiorly to the ends of the head member, as illustrated in Fig. 2. These assembly members are telescoped over the top ends of the upright 6 in an obvious manner to complete the supporting structure.

Each of the flanges 9 of the uprights 6 is provided with a series of notches In which are spaced vertically approximately inch apart and are adapted to supportingly receive the end members of the shelves ll. These shelves consist of an endless rectangular frame or rack [2 of a suitable gauge or wire or rod stock, the sides or side reaches of which engage and are slidabl from front to rear in the space provided by the horizontally alined notches on the two uprights 6. The shelf is completed by a supplementa1 generally U-shaped rear element l3 of somewhat lighter gauge than the frame, the legs M of which are butt-welded to the rear transverse reach of the rectangular frame l2 and the bight 15 of which is offset 90 upwardly to serve as a rear stop for articles disposed on the shelf.

Obviously, the foregoing shelves H may be spaced vertically from one another any desired distance in order to accommodate boxes of different height. The lowermost limit of thepermissible spacing is of course inch and the greatest permissible spacing is in the neighborhood of five feet. In order to enable the articles displayed on the shelves, namely, the boxes It, to be disposed with their front faces flush with one another, thus contributing greatly to the attractiveness of appearance of the shelving when loaded, I provide a number of spaced notches H in the bottoms of the side reaches of the rectangular shelf frame l2, which notches are of a size to snugly fit over the material of the flanges 9, thereby securing the shelves against front-torear movement, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, While permitting the position of the various shelves to be adjusted as desired in the front-torear direction, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The foregoing shelving construction is one which is exceedingly inexpensive and capable of ready installation. I have illustrated only a single section of the shelving assembled in accordance with my invention and it will be understood that whatever number of sections are desired may be utilized or added to or removed from time to time. Aside from the principal advantage of the adjustability of the shelves in two directions for the purposes noted, the wire rod construction contributes an appearance of simplicity and beauty and is much superior to more bulky appearing wooden or sheet metal equipment in this respect. I

The sections including base, uprights, head member and shelves may be easily and quickly assembled on the job or disassembled and compactly arranged for packaging and shipment.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which is very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a shelving structure, the combination of a sheet metal base comprising top, side and end men-bers, upright channel-shaped socket members secured on the inner sides of the end members of the base and having the flanges thereof turned inwardly to receive the flanges of channelshaped upri hts, uprights of channel-section disposed facing inwardly and telescopingly engaging said base socket members, the top of said base member having openings receiving said upr ghts, each of the flanges of the uprights having a series of verticallyaspaced notches, a top member constijt sing a tie member for the upper ends said upri its and provided with channel shaped socket members corresponding to the t members of said base member retug the upper ends of uprights, a plural ity of rectangular frame-like shelves of rod stock, the end members of which are selectively and slida-bly engageable in horizontally aligned notches of said uprights, the end mam-bers having a plurality of notches in the under sides thereof selectively engageable with one of flanges or" the uprights to adjustably position the shelves upon the uprights, and rod-like stop members for said shelves having downwardlyoflset forwardly-projecting arms at the ends thereof secured to the rear longitudinal members of the shelves to constitute fences or ledges for objects arranged upon the shelves.

2. In a shelving structure, the combination of a sheet metal base comprising top, side and end members, upright channel-shaped socket members secured on the inner sides of the end members of the base and having the flanges thereof turned inwardly to receive the flanges of channelshaped uprights, uprights of channel-section disposed facing inwardly and telescopingly engaging said base socket members, the top of said base member having openings receiving said uprights, each of theflanges of the uprights having a series of vertically-spaced notches, a top member constituting a tie member for the upper ends of said uprights and provi ed with channelshap-ed socket members corresponding to the socket members of said base member and receiving the upper ends of said uprights, a plurality of rectangular frame-like shelves of rod stock, the end members of which are selectively and slidably engageable in horizontally aligned notches of said uprights, and rod-like stop members for said shelves having downwardly-offset forwardly-projecting arms at the ends thereof secured to the rear longitudinal members of the shelves to constitute fences or ledges for objects arranged upon the shelves.

3. In a shelving structure, the combination of a sheet metal base comprising top, side and end members, upright channel-shaped socket members secured on the inner sides of the endmembers of the base and having the flanges thereof turned inwardly to receive the flanges of channelshaped uprights, uprights of channel-section disposed facing inwardly and telescopingly engaging said base socket members, the top of said base member having openings receivin said uprights, each of the flanges of the up ights having a eries of vertically-spaced notches, a top member constituting a tie member for the upper ends of said uprights and provided with channel-shaped socket members corresponding to the socket members of said base member and receiving the upper ends of said uprights, and a plurality of shelves comprising frame-like members of rod stock, the end members of which are selectively and slida-bly engageable in horizontally aligned notches of said uprights, the end members having a plurality of notches in the under sides thereof selectively engageabl with one of the flanges of the uprights to adjustably position the shelves upon the uprights. I

i. In a shelving structure, the combination of a sheet metal base comprising top, side and end members, upright channel-shaped socket members secured on the inner sides, of the end members of the base and having the flanges thereof turned inwardly to receive the flanges of channelshaped uprights, uprights of channel-section disposed facing inwardly and telescopingly engaging said base socket members, the top of said base member having openings receiving said uprights, each of the flanges of the uprights having a series of vertically-spaced notches, a top member constituting a tie member for the upper ends of said uprights and provided with channel-shaped socket members corresponding to the socket members of said base member and receiving the upper ends of said uprights, and a plurality of shelves comprising frame like members of rod stock, the end members of which are selectively and slidably engageable in horizontally aligned notches or" said uprights.

5. In a shelving structure, the combination of a base, uprights of channel-section mounted on said base, a plurality of shelves comprising frame- .ilke members of rod stock, the end members of which are selectively engageable in horizonally aligned notches of said uprights, the end members having a: plurality of notches in the under sides thereof selectively engageable with one of the flanges of the uprights to adjustably position the shelves upon the uprights, and fence members for said shelves secured to the rear longitudinal members of the shelves to constitute fences or ledges for objects arranged upon the shelves.

6. In a shelving structure, the combination of a base, uprights of channel-section mounted on said base, and a plurality of shelves comprising frame-like members of rod stock, the end members of which are selectively engageable in horizontally aligned notches of said uprights, the end members having a plurality of notches in the under sides thereof selectively engageable with one of the flanges of the uprights to adjustably position the shelves upon the uprights.

7. In a shelving structure, the combination of a base, uprights of channel-section mounted on said base, a plurality of shelves comprising framelike members of rod stock, the end members of which are selectively engageable in horizontally aligned notches of said uprights, and rod-like fence members for said shelves having downwardly-offset forwardly-projecting arms at the ends thereof secured to the rear longitudinal members of the shelves to constitute fences or ledges for objects arranged upon the shelves.

8. Shelving of the type described, comprising a base, a pair of laterally spaced upright supports on the base each comprising sheet metal elements provided with vertically spaced notches, a plurality of shelves adjustably supported by said notches, said shelves comprising a rectangular frame of rod construction slidably receivable in horizontally aligned notches in said elements, and a supplemental rod element integrally secured to said frame and provided with an offset portion constituting a rear stop, said frame having a plurality of pairs of opposed bottom recesses formed in the side reaches thereof engageable with said upright elements to enable the shelves to be adjustably positioned in a front-to-rear direction and secured against movement when so adjustably positioned, whereby boxes displayed on the shelving may be disposed with their front faces flush, said shelving being removably associated with said notches whereby the vertical space between shelves may be regulated as desired.

9. Shelving of the type described, comprising a base, a pair of laterally spaced upright supports on the base each comprising sheet metal elements provided with vertically spaced notches, and a plurality of shelves adjustably supported in said notches, each said shelf comprising 9. rectangular frame of rod construction slidably receivable in horizontally aligned notches in said elements, said frame having portions engageable with said upright elements to enable the shelves to be adjustably positioned in a front to rear direction and secured against movement when so adjustably positioned, said shelving being provided with a plurality of pairs of opposed notches adapted to be selectively and removably disposed in said element notches whereby the vertical space between shelves and the horizontal relation may be regulated as .desired.

10. Shelving of the type described comprising a pair of laterally spaced uprights of channel section, means for securely supporting said uprights in operative erected position, said uprights having the flanges thereof facing toward one another and provided with a series of vertically spaced notches, and a plurality of removable shelves of rectangular wire rod construction supported in horizontally aligned pairs of said notches and slidable therein for adjustment in a front-to-rear direction, there being pairs of opposed notches on the end reaches of said shelves selectively engageable with said flanges to prevent inadvertent movement of the shelves when adjusted to a desired position.

11. Shelving of the type described comprising a base, a pair of laterally spaced uprights of channel section, means for wedgingly securing and supporting said uprights in operative erected position on said base, said uprights having the flanges thereof facing toward one another and provided with a series of vertically spaced openings, and a plurality of shelves of rectangular wire rod construction supported in horizontally aligned pairs of said openings and slidable therein for adjustment in a front-to-rear direction, there being pairs of opposed notches in said shelves selectively engageable with said flanges to prevent inadvertent movement of the shelves when adjusted to a desired position,

12. Shelving of the type described comprising a base, a pair of laterally spaced uprights of channel section, means for wedgingly securing and supporting said uprights in operative erected position on said base, said uprights having the flanges thereof facing toward one another and provided with a series of vertically spaced openings, and a plurality of shelves of rectangular wire rod construction supported in horizontally alignedpairs of said openings and slidable therein for adjustment in a front-to-rear direction, said shelves having pairs of opposed means therein selectively engageable with said flanges to prevent inadvertent horizontal movement of the shelves from adjusted position.

DEWEY H. BITNEY. 

